2008-02-05 Select Board Meeting Minutes

Item 1: Call the meeting to order – Chair Dorr called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. All members were present.

Item 2: Consideration of the minutes from January 22, 2008 meeting – The Board reviewed the minutes.
Selectperson Ciembroniewicz moved to approve the minutes, seconded by Chair Dorr. The vote was 2-0 in favor. Selectperson Whittlesey was not at the January 22nd meeting and abstained from the vote.

Item 3: Comments from the Public – there were no comments from the public.

Item 4: New Business

Report on SAD 75 Reorganization Planning Committee – Dan Billings, Bowdoinham Municipal Representative – Mr. Billings presented a report on the progress of the Reorganization Planning Committee. He reported that the committee is getting close to concluding its work but two major items are still to be decided: Administrative structure, Cost Sharing. The draft plan will be finished by the end of February with public hearings on the draft plan scheduled for March 15th. Upon conclusion of the public hearings, changes will be made to the draft and the draft will be submitted to the Department of Education. Mr. Billings stated that there are real savings found in the administrative budget but not to the amount as desired by the State. He also reported that there is a bill in the legislature that reopens the issue of cost sharing above the EPS formula. Making a change to EPS formula appears to disadvantage Lisbon the most. If the plan is defeated in Lisbon, the Committee will reconvene to determine if it can make the necessary changes for it to pass. SAD 75 has been assured by the Department of Education that it will not be penalized if the plan is defeated because the district voluntarily entered into the regionalization effort when it was eligible to be a stand alone district.

1. Report on Sagadahoc County Sheriff Department’s activities in Bowdoinham from July 2007 through January 2008 – Chief Deputy Jay Manhardt & Lieutenant Calvin Temple – tabled to March 11, 2008 meeting due to illness.

2. Code Enforcement Officer Report – Nicole Briand, Code Enforcement Officer – Ms. Briand updated the Board on the status of two land use violations: properties on the Post Road and River Road.

3. Conditions of the Roads – The Board discussed the present poor conditions of State Route 24 and State Route 138. The Town Manager reported that the Department of Transportation has requested that the regional planning group, Midcoast Council for Business Development & Planning, develop a regional plan concerning Route 24, particularly in how it relates to the closure of the Brunswick Naval Air Station. Selectperson Whittlesey suggested that the closing of the base and the road improvements associated with the closing could result in funding for improvements to Route 24 outside of the immediate navy base area.

4. Meeting with Mt. Ararat Middle School students – Chair Dorr reported that he spoke to Zach O’Connor’s mother regarding a teen center for Bowdoinham. Town Officials in Topsham had discussions with the teens, and as a result, a teen center may open in Topsham. The teens feel that Topsham is the better place for a center because it is near where they go to school.

5. Agreement with Town of Richmond and Town of Dresden to seek a Planning Grant for the Efficient Delivery of Local and Regional Services – The Board signed an agreement with the towns of Dresden and Richmond to seek a planning grant to determine areas for regionalization as a way to reduce property taxes.

Item 5: Town Manager’s Report – Kathy Durgin-Leighton –

1. Gordon violation – Roger Therriault, the Town Attorney, informed the manager that the Gordon’s settled out of court for $4,000. Initially the Mr. Therriault asked for $5,000 and the parties settled on $4,000. It was Mr. Therriault’s advice that going to court would prove very costly to the town, therefore he recommended that the town settle out of court for the following reasons:
a. Mr. Gordon had passed away
b. The town had a change in code officers
c. Supporting documentation of the violation was missing
d. Insufficient information on the profits received from the cutting

2. Batchelder Road land – The Finance Advisory Committee has recommended that the town sell the tax acquired land next to the Zell property in order to help pay for the cost to replace the Batchelder Road Bridge. Estimates to replace the bridge are approximately $50,000. I have contacted the abutters to determine interest. The Board of Selectmen has the authority to sell the land as it deems appropriate. The Board may decide to give first refusal to abutters or decide to sell in a public auction. The parcel is 7.39 acres, valued at $800 an acre for a total of $5,912. With limited access the valuation is reduced by 50% for a net value of $2,956.

3. Foreclosed Land – Friday, February 8th is the deadline for taxes to be paid before the town forecloses on property. We have ten properties that are in threat of foreclosure. The amount of unpaid taxes on these properties represents $7,059.

Selectperson Whittlesey moved to approve Treasurer’s Warrant #31, seconded by Selectperson Ciembroniewicz. The vote was 3-0 in favor.
Selectperson Ciembroniewicz moved to approve Treasurer’s Warrant #32, seconded by Selectperson Whittlesey. The vote was 3-0 in favor.